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[Illustration: THE BLAZE REVEALED A LARGE MASS OF LUMBER RISING AND
FALLING ON THE TURBULENT WATERS.—Frontispiece]

THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES

OR

THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND CAVE

BY

ARTHUR M. WINFIELD (Edward Stratemeyer)

AUTHOR OF THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL, THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN, THEPUTNAM HALL SERIES, ETC.

ILLUSTRATED

INTRODUCTION.

MY DEAR BOYS: This volume, "The Rover Boys on the Great Lakes," is acomplete story in itself, but forms the fifth volume of the Rover BoysSeries for Young Americans.

When first I started this series with "The Rover Boys at School," I hadno idea of extending the line beyond three or four volumes. But thesecond book, "The Rover Boys on the Ocean," immediately called for athird, "The Rover Boys in the Jungle," and this finished, many boyswanted to know what would happen next, and so I must needs give them"The Rover Boys Out West." Still they were not satisfied; hence thevolume now in your hands.

So far we have followed the doings of Dick, Tom, and Sam at dear oldPutnam Hall, with many larks and sports; then out upon the broadAtlantic in a daring chase which came pretty close to ending in saddisaster; next into the interior of Africa on a quest of graveimportance; and lastly out into the mountainous regions of the wildWest, to locate a mining claim belonging to Mr. Anderson Rover.

In the present tale the scene is shifted to the Great Lakes. The threeboys go on a pleasure tour and, while on Lake Erie, fall in with an oldenemy, who concocts a scheme for kidnapping Dick, who had fallenoverboard from his yacht in a storm. This scheme leads to manyadventures, the outcome of which will be found in the pages thatfollow.

In placing this volume in my young readers hands I can but repeat whatI have said before: that I am extremely grateful to all for the kindreception given the other Rover Boys stories. I sincerely trust thepresent tale meets with equal commendation.

Affectionately and sincerely yours,

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

April 12, 1901

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION I. A STORM ON LAKE ERIE II. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DICK III. ON A LUMBER RAFT IV. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY V. THE SAILING OF THE "PEACOCK" VI. HUNTING FOR DICK VII. THE ESCAPE OF ARNOLD BAXTER VIII. ON THE LAKE AGAIN IX. CAUGHT IN A TRAP X. THE ESCAPE FROM THE HOLD XI. GAINING A POINT XII. A DINNER OF IMPORTANCE XIII. PRISONERS THREE XIV. DICK MAKES HIS ESCAPE XV. WHAT THE LAME MAN KNEW XVI. OFF FOR NEEDLE POINT ISLAND XVII. A CAVE AND A SNAKE XVIII. COFFEE FOR THREE XIX. AN ASTONISHING DISCOVERY XX. JOSIAH CRABTREE'S GAME XXI. TOM BRINGS ONE ENEMY TO TERMS XXII. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND CAVE XXIII. THE BAXTERS ARE FOLLOWED XXIV. AN ENCOUNTER IN THE DARK XXV. BEACHING THE "WELLINGTON" XXVI. CRABTREE JOINS THE BAXTERS XXVII. HOW TOM WAS CAPTUREDXXVIII. THE BAXTERS TALK IT OVER XXIX. DORA STANHOPE APPEARS XXX. HOME AGAIN—CONCLUSION

THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES.

CHAPTER I.

A STORM ON LAKE ERIE.

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